Picture this: A highly successful IT entrepreneur with an impressive track record of working with Fortune 500 companies and the federal government. From the outside, everything appears to be going smoothly, but little do people realize the battles and demons she had faced before she made it here. This person is Maja Kazazic, a mental health expert who has dedicated her life to advocating for empathy, resilience, and mental health.
Her journey from the IT industry to a mental health expert is a tale of triumph over adversity, discovering one’s purpose, and rediscovering oneself. Growing up, Maja was always captivated by the human mind. Her father, a nurse practitioner at a psychiatric hospital, often took her to work with him. She was fascinated by the individuals suffering from mental illnesses living in their own world. This experience ignited Maja’s interest in the enigma of the human mind, and she set out to become an expert in mental health.
However, Maja’s journey to mental health was not a straight line. After immigrating to the United States, her extended family was scattered around the globe due to war. This left her feeling alone and disconnected. The lack of finances made it difficult for them to stay in touch with their extended family. However, with the advent of the internet, Maja found a way to connect with her loved ones.
She began building websites and posting family updates and photos online. It was a cheap and excellent way to stay in touch. Maja became so good at building websites that she started a small web design company, which helped pay for her college. Even though she pursued psychology in college, Maja had almost six years of experience in web design when she graduated.
Maja’s last year in college was a challenge for her. Students had to practice their clinical skills on actual patients. A lot could go wrong with students questioning patients directly. So, she built a mental health diagnostic website where students could diagnose patients correctly by asking appropriate questions. The university wanted to buy the software from her, and they gave her 21 college credits in exchange for it. This meant that she had one year free of college and didn’t have to go to school for one year while receiving those credits.
With her IT experience, Maja pursued IT after graduating and eventually started her successful custom software development company. Her first client was a $150,000 retainer; afterward, Maja’s company worked with several Fortune 500 companies. However, when she was hit with PTSD, her priorities shifted.
Living with PTSD, Maja experienced firsthand the importance of mental health and what it meant to live with invisible demons. Despite all the difficult times in her life during the Bosnian genocide being over, the aftereffects were still present in the form of severe PTSD. After battling her PTSD, Maja returned to her first love – psychology – and dedicated her life to mental health.
Maja’s experience in IT proved valuable in her work as a mental health expert. She saw how technology could be used to connect people and offer solutions to those who need help. This led her to create the MindLift Mental Health app, which uses AI and machine learning to provide mental health solutions to users.
Maja’s journey from IT to mental health expert shows resilience, determination, and empathy. She used her knowledge in IT to make a difference in mental health, connecting people in need with the help they require. Maja’s story inspires those who feel trapped in their careers and want to pursue their passions. Maja’s message is clear: “We can all make a difference in our lives, and we can use our experiences to make a positive impact on others.”
For more details and to learn more about her work, visit her website. https://www.majakazazic.com/
